Letters To The Editor

Skaife deserved top honor

When The Spokesman-Review announced the 1995-96 All-Greater Spokane League basketball team (March 14) it was surprising to learn Ferris girls coach Janet Skaife had not been selected by her peers.

Coach of the year is an honor that is earned and measured by multiple criteria. Over the last five years, Skaife has built a program that is competitive, creative, courageous, disciplined and compassionate. These elements were successfully used to form a team that recently placed third in the State AAA tournament.

Besides placing third, the Ferris girls beat the current state champion Mead Panthers once and lost two close games to the state runner-up Kamiakan Braves this season. At state, they beat the No. 1 seed, previously unbeaten Mountain View, before losing to eventual champion Mead.

The team consisted of eight seniors, three sophomores and one freshman. The starting rotation included three sophomores and two seniors. Sour grapes, jealousy or simply faulty thinking? The real coach of the year is the Saxons’ Janet Skaife! Ed Walther Spokane

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S-R sports staff Sports editor: Jeff Jordan Assistant sports editor: Joe Palmquist Outdoors editor: Rich Landers Columnist: John Blanchette Reporters: Steve Bergum, Kevin Blocker, Dave Boling, Chris Derrick, Greg Lee, Jim Meehan, Dave Trimmer, Mike Vlahovich, Dan Weaver Copy desk: Gil Hulse, Hilary Kraus, Mike Sando, Ralph Walter Stats desk: Kory Boatman, Katharine Kumangai Contributors: Rita Balock, Paul Delaney, Jim Price, Fenton Roskelley, Chuck Stewart.